That Time of Year

I can still remember the excitement that filled our home during this time of year, with the rituals of the season in full swing. New clothes and shoes were at the top of the list, along with a new notebook, crayons, pencils, erasers, the whole nine yards.

During my elementary school years, my family had their lean years, when we would likely have been classified as “poor,” but my mother wouldn’t even consider using that word. Thrifty would have been her choice. Still, it meant we didn’t always get a whole new wardrobe, like the more affluent kids at my school. We got one new pair of shoes, two or three new pairs of pants, and a couple new shirts. Then, since my mom was the handiest seamstress in all of lower Michigan, we got slightly-modified hand-me-downs, a few items of her own creation, and occasionally a re-working of something we already had in our dresser drawers. And thanks to my mom’s skills in bargain hunting and sewing, we looked just as sharp as the kids who had entire closets full of new clothes.

Each new school year brought with it a sense of excitement as we faced the challenges of a tougher grade, along with the feeling that anything was possible---because it was. And it still is. We see that every day at Firefly Autism, and as our new school year begins, we know that there are a myriad of wonderful surprises and exciting adventures ahead.

Our kids will reach milestones they never dreamed they could. They will learn about things they never new existed. They will develop skills that will help them go farther than they ever thought possible. And we can hardly wait!

In fact, there are some exciting new developments ahead for everyone at Firefly, a couple of which are quite possibly the most exciting news in the history of the organization. Unfortunately, we are sworn to secrecyfor the time being, and we aren’t at liberty to reveal what those surprises are just yet. But you’ll know soon. And it will be worth the wait.

Home for the Holidays.But there are a few new developments that I can share with you, starting with a wonderful partnership that promises to make the holiday season much brighter for the entire Firefly family. Peak Properties Group (PPG), one of metro Denver’s top-performing real estate companies, is celebrating the grand opening of a second, new this fall, andthey felt the best way to commemorate their success was by giving back to the community. Together with Firefly, they’ve developed an exciting new fundraising campaign for the holiday season called, “Home for the Holidays.” from October through the end of the year, every home sale or purchase through PPG will result in a $500 donation to support the work of Firefly. And with the addition of new sponsors such as USBank Home Mortgage, the potential of the campaign is even larger. So if you or someone you know is in the market for a new place, or if you’re looking to sell your existing property, you’ll want to consider this opportunity. You’ll get the best possible service every step of the way, and you’ll be helping to support an organization you already love. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

The Greenhouse Project.You may have heard us mention something about a greenhouse on our campus. Well, it’s finally coming to fruition and soon we will have a fully operational greenhouse that will offer our kids an entirely new set of interests and skills. Originally the brainchild of Firefly instructor Eric Altman, funding for the project came through a grant from the Tracy Family Foundation. Progress was slowed due to a few obstacles along the way, but the kit was finally delivered in July, and the greenhouse will finally take shape in September, with volunteers from Burns & McDonnell, Mortenson Construction, and The Green Team, along with Denver Urban Gardens on board to lend their expertise, sweat, and muscle. Stay tuned for updates and photos of the finished product.

Get Ready to Laugh Yourself Even Bluer than Before. With the remarkable success of Laugh Yourself Blue just having passed, it’s time to mark your calendars and get ready for the 2018 edition of Firefly Autism’s annual spring gala. Laugh Yourself Blue 2018 will happen on Thursday, April 19 at the Seawell Grand Ballroom in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. But there are a few exciting new changes and additions to the event---and unfortunately, just like with the other new developments I mentioned above, we aren’t yet at liberty to reveal what those changes are. But let’s just say that it’ll be bigger and better than ever before and you will NOT want to miss it! For now, block that date on your calendar so nothing else gets in its way. You’ll be glad you did.

Sponsorships for the Aforementioned Evening of Laughter. As long as we’re talking about Laugh Yourself Blue, perhaps you or your business might consider a sponsorship for the event. It’s smart, it gets your business impressive exposure, and offers some pretty cool perks and benefits. And best of all, you’ll be helping to support Firefly, our kids and their families. Sponsorships start as low as $2,500 all the way up to $25,000. For more information, contact Dave at 720.399.9246 or email him here.

As always, you don’t have to wait for the holiday season, or back-to-school season, or any season, for that matter, to help support Firefly. You can do it right now, safe and secure on our website at www.fireflyautism.org.